Adapters for automatic lens system usable with different reflex cameras

ABSTRACT

An objective and adapter assembly for use with single lens reflex cameras according to which an objective of one construction, which includes the diaphragm, can be used with any type of a single lens reflex camera by having a suitable one of a plurality of adapters of the invention connected to the objective and to a camera for which the adapter is designed. Different reflex cameras will have different types of diaphragm-actuating elements and the several adapters are respectively designed for the different types of diaphragm-actuating elements so that by using a suitable adapter which is designed for a given camera the same objective can be used with all types of cameras.

United States Patent Mito [54] ADAPTERS FOR AUTOMATIC LENS SYSTEM USABLEWITH DIFFERENT REFLEX CAMERAS [72] Inventor: l-liroshi Mlto, Tokyo,Japan I [73] Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tamron, Omiya-shi,

Japan Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to Mar.17, 1987, has been disclaimed.

[22] Filed: Apr. 16,1969

[21] Appl. N0.: 855,788

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 626,526, Mar. 28,l9 67, Pat. No.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 9, 1966 .Iapan........4l/0248l7 [52] 0.8. CI. ..........95/64 R; 95/44 R, 350/257 [5 1] Int.Cl. ..G03b 9/02 [58] Field oi'Search ..95/44 R, 42, 11,64 R, 64 B350/252, 257

151 3,657,988 1 *Apr. 25, 1972 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,929,308 3/1960 Swarofsky ..95/64 Primary Examiner-Samuel S.Matthews Assistant E.raminer-Richard L. Moses Attorney-Blum, Moscovitz,Friedman & Kaplan [57] ABSTRACT An objective and adapter assembly foruse with single lens reflex cameras according to which an objective ofone construction, which includes the diaphragm, can be used with anytype of a single lens reflex camera by having a suitable one of aplurality of adapters of the invention connected to the objective and toa camera for which the adapter is designed. Different reflex cameraswill have different types of diaphragmactuatingrelements and the severaladapters are respectively designed for the different types ofdiaphragm-actuating elements so that by using a suitable adapter whichis designed for a given camera the same objective can be used with alltypes of cameras.

6 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 25 m2 3. 657, 98 8 SHEET 1 OF 5ADAPTERS FOR AUTOMATIC LENS SYSTEM USUABLE WITH DIFFERENT REFLEX CAMERASThis is a division of application Ser. No. 626,526, filed March 28, 1967now US. Pat. No. 3,500,735, issued Mar. 17, 1970.

BACKGROUND THE INVENTION It is customary to provide single lens reflexcameras with interchangeable objectives, these cameras conventionallycarrying a focal plane shutter in the camera housing while the diaphragmof the camera is incorporated into the objective thereof. Differenttypes of single lens reflex cameras include different types fdiaphragm-actuating elements which are situated in the housings of thecameras. During viewing of the object which is to be photographed thediaphragm is wide open to provide the best possible view of the objectduring focusing, and when the exposure is to be made it is necessaryfirst to stop the diaphragm down to an aperture. which is proper for theparticular lighting conditions and then to trip the shutter. Withcertain types of cameras of this general construction the diaphragm mustbe manually stopped down by the operator prior to' trippingof theshutter to make the exposure. However, there are now many well knowncamera in which the operator sets into'the camerathe proper value forthe aperture and the diaphragm nevertheless remains wide open forfocusing purpose, unit the camerais actuated to make an exposure. Withis latter type of camera the diaphragm is automatically stopped down tothepreselected value just prior to opening of the shutter so thattheoperator need not be concerned with manual stopping down of thediaphragm before the exposure is made.

The present invention relates to this latter category of cameras inwhichthe diaphragm is automatically actuated to provide the preselectedaperture whenever an exposure is made. It iswell known that with camerasof this type different cameras have different types ofdiaphragm-actuating elements. In some cameras these elements shifthorizontally beneath the optical axis while in others thediaphragm-actuating element moves, for example, vertically and issituated beside the optical axis, while in still further cameras thediaphragm-actuating element movesparallel to the optical axis and issituated beneath the optical axis, for example, As a result of thesewide variations in the constructions of different cameras it isnecessary for manufacturers to provide special objectivesfor differentcameras. When it is remembered that these cameras are particularlydesigned for use with interchangeable objectives of different focallengths, then the tremendous inconvenience which results from thissituation becomes apparent. It becomes necessary for manufacturers toprovide complete sets of objectives of various focal lengths all ofwhich are especially constructed so that they can be usedinterchangeably with only one type of camera. Therefore, themanufacturer of the objectives must make sets of objectives of oneconstruction for one type of camera and completely different sets ofobjectives of another construction for another type of camera, and'ofcourse as a result of the wide variety of objectives which must bemanufactured the cost thereof is greatly increased.

SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION Generally speaking, in accordance with theinvention, only one objective construction of a given focal length needbe provided for the many different types of cameras. The objectivemeansof the invention includes the diaphragm of the camera, andaplurality of different adapter means are provided each of which iscapable of being operatively connected to the same objective means.These plurality of adapter means are respectively operativelyconnectable to cameras of different types for respectively coactingwiththe diaphragm-actuating elements thereof, so that with theconstruction of the invention by providing an adapterwhich is designedfor a given camera it is possible to use with the latter an objectivemeans which can also be used with any other type of camera simply bychanging the adapter.

5O jective of the invention with one Accordingly, it is an object ofthis invention to provide for single lens reflex cameras a singleobjective means, which includes the diaphragm, and a plurality ofadapter means which are respectively operatively connectable withdifferent types of cameras and each of which is operatively connectableto the objective means, so that in this way one objective means can beused with all of the different types of cameras.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively inexpensivegroup of adapter means any one of which is capable of cooperating withthe same objective means for actuating the diaphragm thereof, so thatall of the objective means for all of the different types of cameras canhave but a single type of construction while by the choice of a suitableadapter means it becomes possible to use this one type of objectivemeans with any type of camera.

It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide anadapter means which is of a simple construction which will operatereliably to transmit to the diaphragm of the objective means themovement of the diaphragm-actuating element of the camera.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adapter meanswhich can be very easily connected on the one hand to the objectivemeans, and on the other hand to the camera.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part beobvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of theinvention, reference is had to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a fragmentary schematic sectional side elevation showing onetype of camera and diaphragm-actuating element;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic front elevation of a camera housing ofanother type with another type of diaphragm-actuating element;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic front elevation showing a third typeof camera housing and diaphragm-actuating element;

FIG. 4 is a schematic longitudinal sectional elevation, taken in a planewhich includes the optical axis, and showing an obof the adapters of theinventron;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view, at an enlarged scale ascompared to FIG. 4, showing the structure for transmitting motion fromthe diaphragm-actuating element of the camera to the diaphragm oftheobjective;

FIG. 6 shows the parts of FIG. 5 in a position different from thatofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic longitudinal sectional elevation of the objectivemeans of the invention operatively connected with a different adaptermeans thereof;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the objective means ofthe invention with a third possible construction of an adapter means ofthe invention;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary schematic sectional elevation of the objectiveof the invention at the rear portion thereof;

FIG. 10 is a rear end view of the structure of FIG. 9 as seen whenviewed from the right of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional plan view of the structure of FIGS. 9and 10, taken along line 11 ll of FIG. I0 in the direction of thearrows;

FIG. 12 is schematic sectional plan view showing how an adapter similarto that of FIG. 4 coacts with the diaphragm of the objectivemeans of theinvention;

FIG. 13 shows the parts of FIG. 12 in a position different from FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of a second adapterconstruction of the invention adapted to be used with the objectivemeans of the invention and corresponding in general to the constructionshown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary schematic sectional plan view showing anotherembodiment of an adapter means of the in- DESCRIPTION OF PREFERREDEMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, there is schematically andfragmentarily illustrated therein a camera housing having a front wall22 provided with an internally threaded extension 24 which normallywould receive a special objective assembly designedfor the particularcamera shown in FIG. I. With this particular type of camera, there is adiaphragm-actuating element 26 which moves back and forth horizontally,as shown by the double-headed arrow 28, this element moving parallel tothe optical axis 30 and being situated therebeneath. In a well knownmanner whenever the operator actuates the shutter of the camera, beforethe shutter actually opens to make the exposure,-the diaphragm-actuatingelement 26 is advanced forwardly, to the left-as viewed in FIG. I, andthen after the exposure is made and during focusing the element 26 isretracted to a rear position.

With the type of camera shown in FIG. 2, the camera housing 32 has afront wall 34 provided with a tubular projection 36 having a bayonettype of connecting structure 38 for connecting to this camera anobjective which is particularly designed therefor. With this type ofcamera there is in the housing a diaphragm-actuating. element 40 whichmoves horizontally, to the left and. right as indicated by thedoubleheaded arrow 42 of FIG. 2. For example, with this type of camerawhenever the operator actuates the shutter, before the actual opening ofthe shutter theelement'40 is-advanced .to left in FIG. 2, so as to stopthe diaphragm ofthe objective down to the preselected aperture, and thenafter the exposure is made theelement 40 is retracted the right, asviewed in FIG. 2, so that the diaphragm will remain wide openforfocusing purposes. v f v I With a camera of the type shown in FIG. 3 thecamera housing has a front wall 46 provided with a tubular projection 48also having a bayonet type of connecting structure 50 to coact with anobjective assembly particularly designed for this type of camera.In-this type of camera there is a diaphragm-actuating element 52 whichmoves vertically, as shown by the double-headed arrow 54, this element52 being situated beside and moving perpendicularly with respect tooptical axis, while the element 40 of FIG. 2 is situated beneath andalso moves perpendicularly with respect to the optical axis. The element52 of FIG. 3 will be displaced downwardly by the automatic structure ofthe camera whenever the latter is actuated to make an exposure, thisaction taking place just prior to opening of the shutter, and after theexposure is made the element 52 is retracted to its upper position in awell known manner, so that the diaphragm will be wide open for focusingpurposes.

It is thus apparent from FIGS. 1 3 that different types of cameras havedifferent types of diaphragm-actuating elements. These elements may moveparallel to the optical axis, as shown in FIG. 1, or perpendicularlythereto as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and these elements may movehorizontally or vertically as respectively illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the objective means 60 of the invention isillustrated therein. This objective means includes a tubular housing 62carrying a front lens assembly 64 and a rear lens assembly 66, andbetween these assemblies is situated the diaphragm means 68. Thisdiaphragm means includes, as schematically shown in FIG. 4, a stationaryring 70 carrying in suitable apertures 72 stationary pivot pins for thediaphragm blades 74 which themselves fixedly carry pins 76,respectively, which are received in slots 78 of a rotary ring 80.

A spring 82 is operatively connected with the ring so as to maintain astop projection 84, which is fixed thereto in engagement with astationary stop member 86, and in this position where the stop member 84of the ring 80 engages the stop 86, which is fixedly carried by theobjective housing 62 in the interior thereof, the diaphragm is in itsfully opened position enabling the object which is to be photographed tobe clearly seen in the viewfinder. The ring 80 fixedly carries a pin 88which extends parallel to the optical axis and which can be turnedtogether with the ring in the direction of the arrow 90 for reducing thesize of the aperture. This latter turning of course takes place inopposition'to the spring 82 and during this turning of the ring 80 inthe direction of the arrow 90 the slots 78 will respectively coact withthe pins 76 to swing the blades 74 inwardly toward the optical axis,thus reducing the size of the diaphragm aperture. The housing 62 issurrounded by a manually turnable ring 92 which can be turned to aselected position by the operator in accordance with the particular sizeof the aperture which is required, and this ring 92 carries a stop pin94situated in the path of turning movement of the pin 88. A suitable scalewill be provided to coact with the ring 92 so that the operator, afterconsulting a light meter,

for example, will set the ring 92 at the position indicated for asuitable diaphragm setting, and this will of course determine theposition of the pin 94. Suitable,detentstructure of the like, well knownin the art, may be provided for releasably retaining the ring 92 in theposition to which it is turned by the operator. This positioning of thering 92 will have no influence on the ring 80, so that the diaphragmremains in its fully opened position for viewing purposes. When theexposure is to be made, however, just before the shutter opens the pin88 is swung in the direction of the arrow 90 into engagement with thestop pin 94, so that in this way the diaphragm will be automaticallystopped down to the preselected value just prior to opening of theshutter.

Thev abovesdescribed. objective means 60 is used, in accordance withtheinvention, with all cameras irrespective of the different constructionsthereof, as exemplified by FIGS. 1-3. It is only required in accordancewith the invention to provide different adapters for the differentcameras, and FIG. 4 shows the objective means 60 operatively connectedwith one possible adapter means .of the invention, this particularadapter means being operatively connectable to the camera structure ofFIG. 1. j

Thus, the adapter means 100 includes a stepped cylindrical supportmember 102 having at its rear a tubularfexternally threaded portion 104adapted to be threaded into the tubular portion 24 of the camera housing20 of FIG. I. At its front end the cylindrical support 102 has anoutwardly directed flange 106 situated next to the rear end surface ofthe objective housing 62, and this housing is externally threaded at itsrear end portion to carry an internally threaded ring 108 provided atits rear end with an inwardly directed flange I10 overlapping the flange106, so that by way of the ring 108 the adapter means 100 is operativelyconnected with the objective means 60.

The tubular portion 104 of the adapter means 100 is formed with a borewhich extends parallel to the optical axis and which receives andslidably supports a pin 112 which extends parallel to the optical axis.When the parts are assembled, the pin 112 is situated in alignment withthe diaphragm-actuating element 26, with the rear end of the pin 112engaging this element 26 so that movement of the element 26 will betransmitted to the pin 112 which moves back and forth with the element26.

The diaphragm means 100 includes, in addition to the pin 112, a leverI14 supported for turning movement by a pin 116 which is carried by thecylindrical support 102. This lever 114 has a front arm I18 providedwith an upwardly directed free end portion engaging the pin 88 which isheld against the arm 118 by the spring 82. This lever 114 has a secondarm 120 engaged by the front end of the pin 112. Thus, whenever thediaphragm-actuating element 26 of FIG. 1 is advanced forwardly, justprior to opening of the shutter, the pin 112 will also be advancedforwardly resulting in turning of the lever 114 in the direction of thearrow 125, thus turning the pin 88 and the ring 80 in the direction ofthe arrow 90, and reducing the size of the aperture until the pin 88engages the stop pin 94, so that in this way the preselected aperturewill be provided.

Inasmuch as the element 26 will move through a given increment at eachactuation of the shutter, the arms 118 and 120 are separate from eachother but will move together as the result of the action of a spring 122which is coiled about the pivot pin 116 for the lever and which has itsends respectively engaging the lever arms 120 and 118 so as to urge thearm 118 into engagement with a stationary pin 124 fixedly carried by thearm 120. The spring 122 is stronger than the spring 82 but is not strongenough to displace the stop pin 94 from the position in which it hasbeen placed by the operator, so that as a result when the pin 112 isadvanced forwardly by the diaphragm-actuating element 26, the lever arm118 will move the pin 88 into engagement with the stop pin 94,whereupon, during continued forward movement of the pin 112 the spring122 will yield permitting turning of the arm 120 with respect to the arm118 which remains at this time stationary with the pin 88 and the ring80, thus providing the preselected aperture.

FIG. 6 shows in solid lines the positions of the lever arms 118 and 120before yielding of the spring 122 and in dotted lines the position ofthe parts after yielding thereof.

Thus, with this construction whenever the objective means 60 is to beused with a camera of the type shown in FIG. 1, it is only necessary toselect the adapter means 100 for use with the camera of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 shows an objective means 60 identical with that of FIG. 4, sothat all of the details thereof are not repeated in FIG. 7. However,this embodiment includes an adapter means 130 which is different fromthat of FIGS. 4-6 and which is designed for use with a camera of thetype shown in FIG. 2. Thus, this adapter means 130 includes acylindrical support member 132 which is stepped in the manner indicatedin FIG. 7 and which has an outer threaded portion carrying a bayonetring 134 which is adapted to cooperate with the bayonet connection 38 ofthe tubular projection 36 at the front wall 34 of the camera housing 32of FIG. 2. Thus, by way of the bayonet connection 134 it is possible toconnect the adapter 130 to the camera of FIG. 2. The stepped cylindricalsupport 132 has at its front end an outwardly directed flange whichcoacts with a ring 108 identical with that of FIG. 4, so that in thisway the adapter means 130 is connected to the objective means 60 inprecisely the same way as described above in connection with FIG. 4.

With this embodiment the cylindrical support 132 of the adapter means130 fixedly carries a pivot pin 136 whose axis is perpendicular theoptical axis, and this pivot pin 136 supports a lever 138 for turningmovement between the ends of the latter. The forwardly extending arm ofthe lever 138 coacts with the pin 88 in the same manner as was describedabove in connection with the lever 114 of FIG. 4. The lever 138 has arearwardly directed arm 140 which extends into the path of movement ofthe diaphragm-actuating element 40. When the adapter means 130 ismounted on the camera of FIG. 2, the lever 140 is situated to the leftof the element 40, as viewed in FIG. 2, so that when, just beforeopening of the shutter, this element 40 shifts to the left, as viewed inFIG. 2 and described above, the lever 138 will be turned in thedirection of the arrow 142 shown in FIG. 7. Thus, with the camera ofFIG. 2 just before opening of the shutter the element 40 isautomatically advanced from its retracted right-hand position, as viewedin FIG. 2, to the left as viewed in FIG. 2, thus swinging the lever 138in the direction of the arrow 142 and causing the pin 88 to be turnedinto engagement with the stop pin 94 thus providing the preselectedaperture. At the pivot pin 136 the arms of the lever 138 may beconnected to each other in the same way as the arms of the lever 114through the same spring means, so that with this construction it ispossible for the lever 138 to yield after the pin 88 engages the stoppin 94.

Therefore, when the objective means 60 is to be used with a camera ofthe type shown in FIG. 2, it is only necessary to provide the adaptermeans which enables the camera of FIG. 2 to be used with the very sameobjective means as the camera of FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 8, it will be seen that the structure thereofincludes the very same objective means 60 as is included in FIGS. 4 and7. In this case also some of the details shown in FIG. 4 are omittedfrom FIG. 8 since the objective means of FIG. 8 is identical with thatof FIG. 4 and therefore is to be understood as including all of thedetails described above in connection with and shown in FIG. 4.

The objective means 60 of FIG. 8 is shown connected with a thirdembodiment of an adapter means according to the invention, this adaptermeans of FIG. 8 being designed to connect the objective means 60 to acamera of the type shown in FIG. 3 where the diaphragm-actuating elementmoves vertically. The adapter means 150 includes a stepped cylindricalsupport 152 which at its front end abuts the rear end ofthe objectivemeans 60, this front end having an outwardly directed flange connectedto the objective by way of a threaded ring 108 identical with that ofFIGS. 4 and 7. At its rear end the support 152 has a bayonet structurewhich will coact with the bayonet structure 50 of the tubular projection48 which projects forwardly from the front wall 46 of the camera housing44 of FIG. 3.

The adapter means 150 is formed at its inner surface as a bearing tosupport for free rolling movement the antifriction bearing elements 154,and these elements coact with a freely turnable rotary ring 156 whoseouter surface forms an inner bearing race to coact with the antifrictionelements 154. The rotary ring 156 has a pair of projections 158 and 160fixed thereto, extending parallel to the optical axis, and respectivelyprojecting in opposite directions from the ring 156. The projection I58coacts with the pin 88 to displace the latter into engagement with thestop pin 94 when the diaphragm is stopped down in the manner describedabove, and this projection 158 may in fact be composed of a pair ofhingedly interconnected components interconnected by a spring elementdesigned to permit breaking of the joint between the parts of theprojection 158 when the front or forward part thereof places the pin 88in engagement with the pin 94 so that the rear part can then continue toturn with the ring 156 in the event that the latter continues to bedisplaced by the action of element 52 shown in FIG. 3. Thus, thisconstruction is the same as that of FIGS. 5 and 6 except that the pairof arms extend in the same direction when the forward arm engages astationary pin carried by the rear arm and corresponding to the pin 124.

The rearwardly directed projection 160 is situated, when the diaphragmis wide open, beneath the element 52 so that when the latter movesdownwardly just before the shutter opens the projection 160 will bedisplaced downwardly in the direction of the arrow 162 shown in FIG. 8,thus displacing the projection 158 in the direction of the arrow 164,and bringing about the desired stopping down of the diaphragm. Theprojection of diaphragm-actuating element 52 is wide enough to remain inengagement with the projection 160 throughout the entire range ofdiaphragm apertures capable of being provided with the objective means60.

Of course, when the adapter means 150 is connected to the camera of FIG.3 the projection 160 becomes situated beneath the diaphragm-actuatingelement 52.

FIGS. 9-11 schematically represent the objective means 60 by itself, atits rear end portion. Thus, it is apparent that within the outer housingof the objective the diaphragm assembly is included within an interiortubular housing provided at its rear wall with an arcuate slot 172through which the pin 88 extends so as to be engaged by themotion-transmitting structure of the adapter means. The configuration ofthe slot 172 is particularly apparent from FIG. 10, while FIG. 11 showsin dotted lines the position to which the pin 88 is capable of beingdisplaced.

In FIG. 12 there is schematically shown the pin 112' which correspondsto the pin 112 of FIG. 4 and which actuates a pivotally mounted lever114' which corresponds to the lever 114, this lever 114' being pivotallycarried by the adapter means in the manner described above. The adaptermeans is schematically represented in FIG. 12, and the lever 114 isshown in engagement with the pin 88. In FIG. 13 the parts of FIG. 12 areshown after the pin 112' has been advanced forwardly so as to displacethe pin 88.

In FIG. 14 there is shown a lever 138' corresponding to the lever I38and also pivotally carried by the adapter means which is schematicallyshown in FIG. 14, this lever coacting with the pin 88 in the mannerdescribed above in connection with FIG. 7.

FIG. 15 shows schematically a rotary ring 156' corresponding to the ring156 and carrying the pair of projections 158 and 160' which respectivelycorrespond to the projections 158 and 160 of FIG. 8, the projection 158being shown in engagement with the pin 88 so as to actuate the latter inthe manner described above in connection with FIG. 8. The adapter meansis also shown in FIG. 15 in a schematic manner.

With the constructions shown in FIGS. l2-15 the adapter means may be inthe form of a simple stepped cylindrical support having a front endsurrounding and engaging the rear end of the objective means 60 in themanner illustrated in FIGS. 12-15, and any suitable screws of the likemay be passed through openings of the cylindrical support to be receivedin threaded bores 174 indicated in FIG. 9. However, instead of thissimple screw-type of connection of the adapter means to the rear end ofthe objective means, the arrangement shown in FIG. 16 may be providedwhere the threaded ring 108 is shown connecting the adapter means to theobjective means in the manner described above in connection with FIG. 4.By way ofexample, FIG. 16 shows the adapter means of FIG. 12.

It is therefore apparent that with the structure of the invention it isonly necessary to provide for each focal length a single constructionfor the objective means, and this objective means can be combined withany type of camera simply by being joined to a suitable adapter meanswhich in turn will coact with the camera depending upon the type ofdiaphragmactuating element thereof. As a result it becomes possible togreatly simplify the variety of objective constructions which arerequired to be made, and only a relatively limited number of differentobjective constructions are required so that there is a great reductionin the cost of these components while at the same time the differenttypes of adapter means in and of themselves are quite inexpensive aswell as being very reliable in operation.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and,since certain changes may be made in the above construction withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intendedthat all matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is:

1. For use with single lens reflex cameras, objective means having adiaphragm, a camera housing having a diaphragm-actuating element,movement of which is governed by a diaphragm-adjusting member includedin the objective means and variously positioned in accordance with apreset diaphragm value, and adapter means operatively connected on thefront end thereof to said objective means for actuating said diaphragmaccording to said preset diaphragm value and on the rear end thereof tosaid camera housing to be actuated by said diaphragm actuating elementthereof for transmitting movement from said diaphragm actuatin elementto said diaphragm of said ob ective means, where y irrespective of thetype of diaphragm actuating element the same objective means can beconnected to said housing through said adapter means for actuating saiddiaphragm of said objective means with said diaphragm actuating element.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said adapter means includes acylindrical support adapted to be connected at one end to said objectivemeans and at its opposite end to said camera housing, said housingincluding a diaphragm actuating element which moves perpendicularly withrespect to the optical axis, and said adapter means including anelongated lever pivotally supported intermediate its ends by saidsupport, having one arm coacting with said diaphragm of said objectivemeans for actuating said diaphragm and having a second arm in the pathof movement of said diaphragm-actuating element for being moved therebyto transmit movement thereof to said diaphragm.

3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said lever is supported bysaid support means for turning movement about an axis which isperpendicular to the optical axis.

4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein said lever is situated beneathsaid optical axis and said diaphragm-actuating element is also situatedbeneath and moves horizontally with respect to said optical axis.

5. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said adapter means includes acylindrical support adapted to be connected at one end to said objectivemeans and at its opposite end to said camera housing, said adapter meansincluding an interior rotary ring supported for rotary movement aboutthe optical axis by said support, and a pair of projections extendingparallel to the optical axis and respectively fixed to and projecting inopposite directions from said rotary ring, one of said projectionscoacting with said diaphragm of said objective means for actuating saiddiaphragm during turning of said rotary ring and the other of saidprojections being situated in the path of movement of saiddiaphragm-actuating element to be moved thereby for turning said ringand transmitting movement through said one projection to said diaphragm.

6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said diaphragmactuatingelement is situated beside the optical axis and is adapted to movevertically in the direction perpendicular thereto while engaging saidother projection to turn said ring.

1. For use with single lens reflex cameras, objective means having adiaphragm, a camera housing having a diaphragm-actuating element,movement of which is governed by a diaphragm-adjusting member includedin the objective means and variously positioned in accordance with apreset diaphragm value, and adapter means operatively connected on thefront end thereof to said objective means for actuating said diaphragmaccording to said preset diaphragm value and on the rear end thereof tosaid camera housing to be actuated by said diaphragm actuating elementthereof for transmitting movement from said diaphragm actuating elementto said diaphragm of said objective means, whereby irrespective of thetype of diaphragm actuating element the same objective means can beconnected to said housing through said adapter means for actuating saiddiaphragm of said objective means with said diaphragm actuating element.2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said adapter means includes acylindrical support adapted to be connected at one end to said objectivemeans and at its opposite end to said camera housing, said housingincluding a diaphragm actuating element which moves perpendicularly withrespect to the optical axis, and said adapter means including anelongated lever pivotally supported intermediate its ends by saidsupport, having one arm coacting with said diaphragm of said objectivemeans for actuating said diaphragm and having a second arm in the pathof movement of said diaphragm-actuating element for being moved therebyto transmit movement thereof to said diaphragm.
 3. The combination ofclaim 2 and wherein said lever is supported by said support means forturning movement about an axis which is perpendicular to the opticalaxis.
 4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein said lever is situatedbeneath said optical axis and said diaphragm-actuating element is alsosituated beneath and moves horizontally with respect to said opticalaxis.
 5. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said adapter meansincludes a cylindrical support adapted to be connected at one end tosaid objective means and at its opposite end to said camera housing,said adapter means including an interior rotary ring supported forrotary movement about the opticAl axis by said support, and a pair ofprojections extending parallel to the optical axis and respectivelyfixed to and projecting in opposite directions from said rotary ring,one of said projections coacting with said diaphragm of said objectivemeans for actuating said diaphragm during turning of said rotary ringand the other of said projections being situated in the path of movementof said diaphragm-actuating element to be moved thereby for turning saidring and transmitting movement through said one projection to saiddiaphragm.
 6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein saiddiaphragm-actuating element is situated beside the optical axis and isadapted to move vertically in the direction perpendicular thereto whileengaging said other projection to turn said ring.